Page 15 of Caroline Saves the Blacksmith
Several seconds passed, wood crackling in the fireplace the only sound in the silence. Finally, he replied, his reluctance evident. “I would prefer not to marry, but if it was required, we could come to an arrangement.”
Caroline slowly resumed breathing. “I … appreciate it. But as you said, no one was out there to witness my presence.”
* * *
Hadhe just offered to marry the woman? William shook his head after Caroline left the room, mumbling about preparing a poultice.
He supposed he would do it if he had to because he could not possibly leave a fine woman of Caroline’s quality to suffer for doing him a good deed. He could not allow it for a woman of any quality, but especially not the lovely mantua-maker who had impressed many of his acquaintances with her keen business sense.
Modiste.
William shook his head at the self-admonishment. Life was taking unexpected turns since he had noticed Caroline beckoning Annie Greer into her shop. He would never have thought to understand the difference between the two types of dressmakers, yet here he was discerning it.
From the kitchen, he heard Caroline begin to hum again. The melody was relaxing, and he was happy to hear she was once more returned to her cheerful self. Her alarm at noticing the curtains were open had been momentarily amusing, but as her disquiet became obvious, he had realized the serious repercussions for a young woman to be seen at his home alone. Men did not have to concern themselves over such things, but a young proprietress such as Caroline, who had just begun her first business, would be utterly ruined socially and likely financially, too.
William lay back and shut his eyes, listening with mild enjoyment to Caroline preparing the poultice for his ankle. The holidays alone had always been daunting, which was why he busied himself with work in the festive season. Being laid up like this would be sheer torture to his now idle mind, so having company in the house was a boon to his soul. A distraction from the dark memories.
It would be acceptable to allow it for just a night or two.
When Caroline returned, she had the poultice on a tray, which she set down on the low table before taking a seat on the sturdy furnishing. The doctor had removed his stocking when he had bound up William’s ankle. She now carefully unwound the bandage, humming to herself. It was something that had struck him about the modiste. She always seemed cheerful.
“I am sorry you have to spend your holidays nursing me.”
Caroline’s hazel eyes found his. “It is quite all right, William. I was working, as it happened.”
A smile of gratitude flickered across his lips, but it saddened him to think that a lovely woman such as Caroline was spending Christmas Eve alone. She should have a husband and a bevy of children at her side. The way she had taken care of Annie Greer, despite being new to town, spoke to the goodness residing in her heart.
Caroline wrinkled her nose as she washed the swelling with warm vinegar. Then she applied the compress to his leg. “My word, the spirits in this mixture are strong! Quite enough to take one’s breath away!”
William gritted his teeth at the sense of helplessness to be tended to like a child, mingled with the enjoyment of her delicate fingers pressing against him. “What is it?”
“The poultice? The doctor instructed a variety of ingredients. Vinegar, oatmeal, camphorated spirits of wine, Mindererus’s spirit, volatile liniment, volatile aromatic spirit diluted with a double quantity of water, and the common fomentation, with the addition of brandy.”
“My word, did I have all those ingredients?”
She smiled. “No, I only found four or five. Hopefully, it will do.”
“I am sure it will. Dr. Hadley seemed to think the key measure was to rest the leg. He had me soak it in ice water when he first arrived.”
“There you go, then. We will use the poultice and then I will bind it to your ankle. By the time Christmastide is over, you will hopefully be mostly healed.”
“Are you always such an optimist?”
Her hands stilled in their task, and William got the sense that Caroline was thinking of unpleasant things before she finally replied. “I find it is important to count one’s blessings. The world can be very lonely, but if you take the time to count your blessings, you can be happier.”
“What blessings would you count for me tonight? Now that I have sprained my ankle in this stupid manner.” He waved his hand toward his leg.
“You are a well-respected blacksmith with a successful business. The doctor respects and admires you, so he took great pains to find an attendant to be at your side. You are strong and healthy, which means if you follow his directions, you should be fully recovered within a few days. And … you have your entire life ahead of you!”
As Caroline completed her litany of blessings, the glow of her face captivated William. Her lively hazel eyes were brimming with sincere interest. She meant it, speaking with conviction. It gave him pause to hear his situation described by the woman who embodied sheer sunshine in his mind.
A fire sprang to life in his belly as he watched her, the urge to reach out and pull her into his arms a physical impulse he had to quell.
Careful, William. You are feeling things. Feelings lead to loss and pain. Feelings nearly broke you when Charles died.
With more force than he intended, before the sunshine could spread into the recesses of his soul to reawaken his dead spirits, William bit back, “Are you nearly done?”
Caroline flinched as if he had slapped her instead of rejected her blessings. The crestfallen look that followed stabbed him deep in the chest, and William feared that he had taken action too late. The withered organ that lay in his breast had already begun its slow return to life.
